Clinical efficacy of polyethylene glycol as an adjunct therapy for mild spinal injuries in dog

Abstract

The present study investigated the clinical efficacy of polyethylene glycol (PEG 4000 Da) as an adjunct therapy for mild Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) in dogs. 16 dogs exhibiting clinical signs of SCI were randomly allocated into two groups. Group I received a 20% PEG solution (Four?ml/kg IV) along with methylprednisolone sodium succinate (MPSS, 30?mg/kg IV) on the day of presentation, followed by a second PEG dose after 48 hours. Group II received MPSS alone. Both groups were treated with oral prednisolone acetate (1?mg/kg) for 10 days in tapering doses, along with supportive therapy for 30 days. Neurological, radiographic, and epidurographic assessments identified the thoracolumbar region as the most commonly affected site. Hematological and biochemical profiles remained largely unaffected by the treatment protocols, except for elevated alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels. By end of study period, 87.5% of dogs in Group I regained ambulatory function compared to 62.5% in Group II. PEG administration significantly accelerated and improved recovery, highlighting its potential as an effective adjunct in canine SCI management.